Could Your Body Use A Little Gratitude?

In this month of Thanksgiving, I am reminded of the miracle of these bodies we inhabit – our “temporary space suits” here on Planet Earth. Just our basic framework alone is truly extraordinary (not counting our inner tissues and organs).

With over 6,000 tendons, 900 ligaments, 600 muscles, all moving or stabilizing 206 bones, it is beyond words to accurately describe the wonder and marvel that we are. So much to be grateful for, with just this.

I often think of Buckminster Fuller, the brilliant inventor and futurist, when attempting to describe the complexity and exquisite design of our human bodies. Fuller, widely known for the geodesic dome, coined the term “tensegrity” to explain how the dome got its strength and structure with virtually no stable parts. The secret comes from an equal amount of tension distributed over and throughout the surface of the dome.

In a more complicated and involved way, this is basically how our musculoskeletal system works. With so many added variables and conditions (mainly movement) our bodies are trying to maintain an equal state of tension with all our muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones!  Oh my goodness, what an incredible vehicle we move around with.

There is good reason to be giving thanks for simply being able to move without needing to even think about it.

Of course, it’s a given that, from time to time, our body is going to be thrown out of balance by an injury or just stress. Even gravity alone, working 24/7, is enough to throw your body out of balance.

Fortunately, the role of the Massage Therapist is to help restore balance to your structure. We all need some help sooner or later.

Perhaps, during this period of reflection on what we are grateful for, it’s time to come in for a session.

Could your body benefit from some gratitude and appreciation for all the hard work it does without you even realizing or asking it to? If so, I can certainly help with that and would love to hear from you!

By Scott Patton

Professional Massage Therapist